Free Archaic by Regan Ure

it would help. His eyes lifted to mine. I guess it had.
    "You wanna go out sometime?" he asked, "so I can show you around town and maybe get a movie or something?"
    I liked Andrew because he made me feel safe and comfortable. I was at ease with him. Being around Jared was different because he pulled fierce emotions from me that made me nervous, even though I knew that nothing would ever happen between the two of us. It would be easy to agree to go out with Andrew and see what happened, but deep down I knew that I didn't feel anything more than friendship for him.
    "I don't want to give you the wrong idea," I said. "I like being around you and would love to go out sometime. But it would have to be as friends."
    There was a moment of disappointment before it was replaced with one of his signature smiles.
    "Sure, I can do friends," he said. The burden on my shoulders lightened.
    "Great," I replied with a smile, feeling better that I'd been honest with him up front.
    "Are you allowed out during the week?" he asked, his eyes watching me expectantly.
    "Yeah, it should be okay. My grandmother isn't very strict. As long as she knows where I am."
    "Are you free tonight?" he asked.
    I smiled at him. "Yes, tonight would be good."
    The bell signaled the end of lunch and Andrew walked me out of the cafeteria. As I walked out, I saw Jared watching us. I'd done my part; I'd lied about hooking up with him to protect him.
    "I'll pick you up at six," he said as he walked with me to my next class.
    "Six is good." I gave him a nod.
    "I'll see you later, then," he said as he left me at my class.
    After school had finished, Stacy and Kennedy cornered me for details.
    "Whatever you are wearing, I want some, too," Stacy remarked, looking convinced that my perfume was the reason for all the attention I'd been getting from the opposite sex.
    "So what happened with Jared?" Kennedy nudged me as we walked out of the school entrance.
    "Not much, he just wanted to say hi." It was close to the truth.
    "Just hi?" Kennedy asked, looking unconvinced.
    "Yup." I shrugged, hoping they would drop the subject.
    "And Andrew?" Stacey was now the one questioning me.
    "He asked if he could take me out tonight." Both of my friends didn't look surprised. They'd realized before I had that Andrew liked me.
    "And?"
    "I said yes," I answered as I stopped and looked at them for their reaction. "But only as friends."
    "Why just friends?" Stacy asked. "He's cute and so into you."
    "I just don't feel that way about him." It wasn't something I could force. It was there, or it wasn't.
    "So what's happening between you and Jared?" Kennedy asked.
    "Jared made it clear it was a one off," I explained as I fiddled with my bag's strap. Stacy threw her arm around my shoulder and pulled me toward her car.
    "It's his loss."
    Stacy dropped me off at my house. I'd forgotten to ask Andrew where we were going, so I wasn't sure what I should wear. I didn't think I could really go wrong with a T-shirt and jeans, and I would smarten it up with some nice sandals. I brushed my hair and left it down. It hung in waves down to my shoulders. I put on a little lip gloss and I was ready by six.
    Anne hovered by the front door, so when the doorbell rang she was the one to answer it. I think she was more excited about me going out than I was.
    "Hi, you must be Andrew," she greeted him as she ushered him inside.
    "Yes, it's nice to meet you," he greeted back.
    It was a relief to see Andrew as casually dressed as I was. He was wearing a button-up cotton shirt rolled up to his elbows, and a pair of jeans. He looked cute.
    "Where are you taking Ava tonight?" Anne questioned him.
    "Dinner or a movie, or both? Whichever Ava is happy with?"
    Anne smiled. I could see that she approved of him. "Okay, well, whatever the plan, have fun." And with that she rushed us both out of the door.
    "Sorry, my gran is a little weird," I said as we walked to his truck.
    "I like her," he said as he opened the passenger door for me.